The Center for
Voting and Democracy’s Board of Directors, headed by former
independent presidential candidate John B. Anderson, has launched a
nationwide initiative called “Democracy USA” designed to strengthen
democracy in the United states.

CVD plans to issue a series of
additional announcements in the coming months about implementation
of the Democracy USA program, including: a media campaign to draw
attention to advances and setbacks for democracy in the United
States and to highlight efforts by pro-democracy advocates around
the country; the creation of the John Anderson Fund for Independent
Politics; and establishment of a “Citizen’s Declaration” in support
of the goals and principles of the Democracy USA initiative. It will
hold a major
conference
on the pro-democracy movement on November 21-23 in Washington, DC.

The full text of the resolution
adopted by Board of Directors follows. Read a recent article by Jamie Raskin for more about
the case for guaranteeing the right to vote in the constitution.

Whereas..... There is a serious “democracy deficit”
in the United States at every level – local, state and national. Our
deplorable democratic shortcomings were on worldwide display during
the presidential election fiasco of 2000, but are far more profound
than ambiguities in recount procedures. The “democracy deficit”
finds expression in:

• the absence of substantive debate in
Congress about major policy decisions such as the shift to a foreign
policy of pre-emptive warfare;

• the continuing lack of a single
African American or Latino in the U.S. Senate and
under-representation of people of color in all levels of government;

• the stalling of progress in
levels of women’s representation in Congress and state legislatures;

• the widespread perception that Congress is out of touch with the
needs and desires of average Americans;

• the embrace legislators
provide current partisan approaches to redistricting that contribute
to historic levels of incumbent protection and landslide victories;

• the growing inequality in candidates’ access to the public
through the media;

• the effective exclusion of non-major party
candidates and independents from serious consideration in most
elections;

• the growing concern about threats to our civil
liberties;

• the lack of urgency and vision in modernizing the
dilapidated infrastructure of elections;

• and, last but certainly
not least, in the absence of a constitutionally protected right to
vote, not to mention the right to a truly effective and meaningful
vote.

Whereas..... The often-heroic efforts of national, state and
local pro-democracy activists and reformers to address these
shortcomings have fallen short. A major contributing factor is that
every major national pro-democracy organization is defined by a
piecemeal agenda of its own particular preferred reforms.

Whereas..... Pro-democracy work can be pursued most effectively at
the state level, but lobbyists and activists for pro-democracy
issues in most states are under-funded and under-supported. They
also are often limited to supporting only part of what should be a
“big picture” pro-democracy agenda and often must divert attention
to non-democracy policy agendas.

Whereas..... Policy and democracy
are closely intertwined. Civic groups seeking changes in policy
should consistently connect their interests to those of a vital
democracy. Thinktanks and columnists should not overlook the
significance of democracy and what is happening across the country.

Whereas..... The process of preserving and expanding democracy will
constantly require vigilance and action.

Whereas..... The times
urgently demand a new vision that establishes the need for a strong
electoral democracy -- in all its components and with no “magic
bullet” reform solutions -- at the center of political debate and
that highlights advances and setbacks at a national, state and local
level;

Whereas..... The time has come to establish a much stronger
infrastructure for a pro-democracy movement: one that establishes a
visible presence across the nation, able to lobby for a full agenda
of exclusively pro-democracy issues in state capitols, build
stronger networks among pro-democracy organizations, identify and
support local reform opportunities and take advantage of resources
and insights provided by a more coordinated national pro-democracy
movement.

Whereas..... All serious
candidates seeking the presidency and other positions of public
trust should articulate a vision for a better democracy for the 21st
century – not only to define their own candidacy as being responsive
to average citizens, but also to pave the way for real change in the event of victory.

Whereas….. A series of Constitutional amendments have expanded the
franchise to protect women, African Americans and young adults, but
Justice Antonin Scalia in Bush v. Gore could plausibly argue that
voters do not have a fundamental right to vote in presidential
elections because, unlike the more than 130 nations with
constitutions that explicitly guarantee citizens the right to vote
and to be represented at all levels of government, the U.S.
Constitution provides no such right.

Now, therefore be it
resolved that:

The Center for Voting and Democracy hereby launches a
nationwide “Democracy USA” initiative designed to ignite formation
of a broad pro-democracy movement in America. Once fully realized,
this movement will involve ongoing coordination among leading
pro-democracy organizations and the hiring of full-time democracy
advocates in all states.

Be it further resolved that the Democracy
USA Initiative will not initially endorse a specific set of
political reforms, with the exception of a proposed constitutional
amendment protecting the right to vote. Instead Democracy USA will
promote the view that strengthening and energizing democracy is an
ongoing responsibility that is not defined by any particular reform
but rather is expressed by broad principles of equality, fair
representation, meaningful choices, full voter participation,
effective voter education, state-of-the art election administration
and recognition of the importance of full representation of American
diversity. Democracy USA will, therefore, promote these broad
principles rather than endorse a particular set of reforms.

The
Center’s Democracy USA initiative in the summer of 2003 will carry
out a multi-faceted communication strategy, including issuing
regular news releases, sending out email alerts, securing media
opportunities for representatives of the Center and other
pro-democracy organizations and establishing a Democracy USA website
that feature news updates, opportunities for action and web-blogs
from leading democracy advocates.

The Democracy USA initiative will
establish a Citizen's Declaration of support in order to provide a
vehicle for individuals to express public support for Democracy
USA’s principles and vision.

The Democracy USA initiative will
develop relationships with democracy advocates in national and
states organizations. We will inform them of our communications
strategy and desire to enhance their work by highlighting the
efforts of pro-democracy groups working in particular states. We
will learn of advances and setbacks for democracy in states.

The
Democracy USA initiative will collect and develop resources that
assist democracy advocates in states, showcasing best practices for
promoting particular reforms and circulating effective educational
and advocacy materials that facilitate state advocacy.

The
Democracy USA initiative will establish an informal network of
national representatives of pro-democracy organizations to
facilitate communication among groups focused on different
pro-democracy issues. The goal will be to work toward a major
conference in November 2003 that will also promote a constitutional
amendment guaranteeing the right to vote.

The Democracy USA Initiative will
establish the John Anderson Fund for Independent Politics. This Fund
will support efforts that promote independent politics and a strong
democracy. It initially will have five areas of focus: 1) the drive
to revive full representation in Illinois; 2) national efforts to
promote inclusive debates; 3) effective implementation of instant
runoff voting in San Francisco in this year’s mayoral election; 4)
the drive to amend the Constitution to protect the right to vote; 5)
support for targeted research projects and publications to highlight
reform initiatives.